European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - November 21, 1993, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Sunday november 21. 1993 sports the stars and stripes Page 33 Rockies sign Johnson. Of i in i i to fill Galarraga void a free agent Howard Johnson brings his switch hitting Power to the Rockies after nine seasons with the mets. Bojoh Mossman Denver a the Colorado Rockies May have found a replacement for holdout first baseman Andres Galarraga the reigning National league batting Cham Pion. He is Veteran free agent Howard Johnson one of Only six Active players with 200 career homers and 200 stolen bases who on Friday signed a one year contract with the Colorado Rockies with a club option for the 1995  puts the Ball in the air which should play awfully Well in the thin air at mile High stadium an later at Coors Field Rocky general manager Bob Gebhard said. This gives us some insurance and give sour fans a Power hitter to put in the Middle of the line  Don Baylor called Johnson an Ideal fit for our organization. He plays the game hard and he what we were looking for a Guy who can produce. He s also a switch hitter which gives us some  fills a void on our team. We really Don t have a Power hitter from the left , who has played third base shortstop and All three Outfield positions Likely will Start his career wit the Rockies in left Field. However Gebhard said Johnson might be tried Athirst base if the Rockies Are unsuccessful in re signing Galarraga who hit .370 last  switch hitting Johnson who turns 33 on nov. 29, is a Veteran of 11 major league seasons the last nine with the new York mets. Johnson has displayed an impressive combination of Power and Speed averaging 31 homers 95 Bis and 32 stolen bases from 1987-91. He was known for his durability during that Span averaging 154 games a  Best season was 1991, when he led the National league with 39 homers and 117 Bis batting .259 an stealing 30 bases. However his production slipped dramatically the Las two seasons primarily because of injuries. In 1992, his year ended on july-28 with a broke right wrist. While recovering doctors also repaired his left shoulder and both of his Knees arthroscopic ally. He hit just .223 with seven homers and 43 Bis in 100 games that  year John Sori hit .238 with seven homers and 26 Bis in just 72 games. He spent part of the year on the disabled list because of a viral infection that made him weak and dizzy and his season ended on july 22 whence. Broke his right thumb. Johnson said critics who have written off his care rare mistaken. Believe me the last two seasons Are two i d like to forget he said. Some people May think that i m done but they re wrong. I be had some injuries. But i have no doubt that As Long As i m healthy i can put up some big  is paying me to drive in runs and hit the Ball out of the Ballpark and i can do  m not an old Man. I still feel like i m in the prime of my  said he was drawn to the Rockies because of Gebhard s interest and because he liked the  thought the Rockies made such great strides last year Johnson said but they did t want to stand  wanted to build a Winner. I thought the chances of winning Here would t take As Long As a lot of people might think. I think next year is going to be  dodgers acquire Deshields from expos  Angeles a the los an Geles dodgers believe their third option a second base will turn out to be the Best one. Looking to add Speed to their lineup the dodgers acquired second baseman Delino Deshields from the Montreal expos on Friday for Pitcher Pedro Martinez. Deshields 24, hit .295 with 43 stolen bases last season. In four full years in the majors the left handed hitter has batted.277 and averaged 47 steals. Martinez 22, was 10-5 with a 2.61 Erain 65 games last season All but two of them in Relief. In his first full year in the majors he had 119 strikeouts in 107 innings. I never thought i d be a dodger de Shields said by Telephone from his Home in West Palm Beach Fla. I m a Little bit surprised but i m excited. This is a Good Opportunity for me i know a lot of the dodger players. They have a real Good group of Guys. I m looking Forward to  Reed 31, played second base for the dodgers last season and did a goo Job hitting .276 and Fielding his position Well. But he stole Only one  became a free agent following the world series and said recently he that he did t believe the dodgers were making much of an Effort to re sign  have a great Deal of respect for Jody Reed dodger general manager Fred Claire said. He played hard for us and he played Well. We had put Forth our offer very Early before Jody really declared free Agency. If he had said yes tour offer we would not have traded for a second  Point of All of this was simply an Opportunity to add a Young player whole feel is one of the top Young players in  the dodgers also spoke with Robby Thompson who recently re signed with the san Francisco giants. We made a run at Robby that would have meant we would have kept Pedro Claire said. The thing with Robby did t work out. One door closes and we were prepared to open another  Deshields was Montreal s Lead off hit Ter last season until he sprained a Liga ment in his left thumb in August sidelining him for five weeks. Mogiln boosts sabres past jets by the associated pressing the midst of an ugly Brawl filled mess a much needed pretty performance by Alexander Mogiln jumped out. With superstar Center Pat Lafontain announcing he would probably be out for the season with knee injury the Buffalo Sabre wanted something extra from their newly appointed Captain. Mogiln delivered. The 24-year-oldrussian scored three goals an added an assist in leading the sabres to a 6-0 win Over the Winnipeg jets Mogil Nyon Friday night. It was the sabres first win in eight Home games. It was obviously important to us both emotionally and from a very real stand Point that he step up Sabre coach John Muckler said of Mogiln. He took com Mand. It was a great Start for  despite Coligny s Sterling performance and a 22-save performance by Sabre goalie Grant Fuhr. The game was almost stolen by the antics of the teams strongmen tie Domi and Rob Ray. Taking advantage of the replacement officials one of whom had just officiated his first game the night before Domi Andray engaged in several fights the first at 4 27 of the second  nil has been using replacements since monday when its regular officials went on  and Ray weren t the Only combatants. The sabres and jets notched six fighting majors and four game Misc on ducts. In total 135 penalty minutes we reassessed in a game that took three hours and 10 minutes to  his second game As Captain Mogiln sparked what had been an abysmal Power play 6 for 44 at Home. The sabres scored on three out of five chances with the extra Man. Mogiln got two of them. Mogiln scored the first period s Only goal on the Power play then the sabres added four More goals off Winnipeg Goa lie Bob Essensa in the second period to put the game  from Mogiln Buffalo s other scorers were Donald Audette Dale a Verchuk and Wayne Presley. In other games Friday night rangers 5, lightning 3 new York extended its unbeaten Streak to 12 games As Esa Tikkanen and Adam Graves scored  rangers 10-0-2 in their last 12, extended their Road winning Streak to five third Best in club history. The loss was Tampa Bay s 10th in its last 12.tikkanen scored the game Winner at 4 20 of the third on a slap shot from jus inside the Blue line. Rob Zamuner and Marc Bureau each scored their first goals of the season for the lightning. Mighty ducks 6, canucks 3 Anatoli Semenov claimed from Vancou ver in the expansion draft had a goal and two assists As Anaheim beat  ducks had lost three consecutive one goal decisions. This time they got Relia ble goal ending from Ron tug Nutt who made 44  now has 21 Points in 20 games for the mighty  Ewen Randy Ladouceur Peter Douris Garry Valk and Joe Sacco also scored for the visiting ducks. Geoff court Nail Cliff Ronning and Trevor Linden scored for Vancouver. The canucks out shot Anaheim 47-24. Nil strike talks resume today new York a both Side shave confirmed that negotiations will resume today Between striking he on ice officials and league representatives. League spokesman Arthur pin Cus confirmed Friday night that there would be a meeting today but still had no word on the site. Don Meehan chief representative of the referees and linesmen said he called the league on Friday to arrange for the first negotiations since the officials walked out monday. I think both sides recognize an appreciate the conviction of both sides Meehan said. We Are will ing and Able to meet and discuss the issues with them and see if we can reach some common  the league has used replacement officials since the referees and line Smen struck. The last talks Sci Wenthe  sides occurred last sunday at new York. We have been involved in inter Nai discussions since then Mee Han said